The Stairway to Heaven
High above Hooker Valley, the Sealy Tarns Track climbs steeply to a pair of alpine tarns, with one of the most celebrated views of Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park in the South Island. Known as the “Stairway to Heaven,” this short but demanding climb rewards hikers with an elevated outlook that puts the landscape into perspective, from braided rivers to ice-clad summits.
For stunning panoramas in a manageable half-day hike, Sealy Tarns is hard to beat.
A 2,200 Step Hike
The track begins at White Horse Hill campground, with a gentle one km walk to the base of the Sealy Range. From there, it is a steep 500-metre climb up the side of the range to the 1,300 metre mark, mainly on formed staircases with around 2,200 steps. Some of the steps are steep, and others are well-worn. Despite the steepness, there are only a couple of moderately exposed sections, mainly as you approach the tarns. Despite the height, the track is sun-facing and generally below the snow line. Any snow and ice that forms melts quickly, making it doable without any special equipment on a fine Winter’s day.
Stunning Flora and Exceptional Views
During the walk, the flora shifts from subalpine scrub to tussock slopes and is intensely colourful. In Spring and Summer, it would be further enhanced with an array of mountain flowers. The tarns themselves are a perfect picnic spot, with a large table facing Aoraki / Mt Cook. In Winter, the tarns are frozen, but once melted, they provide reflections of Aoraki / Mt Cook and Mueller Glacier on calm days.
On the way up, and especially from the picnic table and surrounding ridge, the views are exceptional. On a clear day, you will see the Mueller Glacier, the Mueller Glacier Lake, the Hooker Lake, Aoraki and the glaciated surrounding mountains. Across the Hooker Valley is the Kirikirikata / Mt Cook Range, and to the south is the Mt Cook Village backed by the rocky face of Sebastopol.
Culture & History
The name “tarn” originates from an Old Norse word for a small mountain lake and is widely used in New Zealand to describe even ponds. Sealy Range was named after Judge Edward Sealy, an early surveyor in the region. Māori travellers crossed the valleys below in seasonal food-gathering journeys, though the alpine heights were largely the domain of atua (spiritual beings).
Check for Updates
Unlike most of the other walks around Aoraki, Sealy Tarns is a serious hike up the side of a mountain. Check the conditions before you head out with a visit to the DOC Visitor Centre.
Getting There
From Mt Cook Village, drive to White Horse Hill campground and car park at the end of Hooker Valley Road. The return climb takes 3–4 hours, although the ultra fit will scramble up and down in a couple of hours.
For the enthusiastic, you can continue from the tarns with another 500 metre climb to Mueller Hut on the Sealy Range Ridge. The ridge is likely to be affected by snow and ice in Winter, so be prepared. On the return, if you have the energy, take the 15-minute easy side walk to the end of the Kea Point Track to the edge of the Mueller Glacier Lake. From the same car park, you can also walk the Hooker Valley Track to Hooker Lake, while other spectacular walks around Aoraki include the much easier Governors Track beech forest walk and the walk to Tasman Lake and the nearby Blue Pools.
